Social Values

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

– John 1:16 NRSV

Yes, everything is for your sake, so that grace, as it extends to more and more people, may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

– 2 Corinthians 4:15 NRSV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all…

– Titus 2:11 NRSV

From the UMC Book of Discipline’s Socials Principles – “Racism breeds racial discrimination. We define racial discrimination as the disparate treatment and lack of full access and equity in resources, opportunities…  Therefore, we recognize racism as sin and affirm the ultimate and temporal worth of all persons. We rejoice in the gifts that particular ethnic histories and cultures bring to our total life. We commit as the Church to move beyond symbolic expressions and representative models that do not challenge unjust systems of power and access.”

UMC SOCIAL PRINCIPLES

So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

– Genesis 1:27 NRSV

From the UMC Social Principles – Rights of Immigrants

We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination. We urge the Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all. We oppose immigration policies that separate family members from each other or that include detention of families with children, and we call on local churches to be in ministry with immigrant families.

UMC SOCIAL PRINCIPLES
(Paragraph 162, H.)

…for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.

– Matthew 25: 35-36 NRSV

As a reconciling congregation, we are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for people of all backgrounds and identities. We believe that everyone is made in the image of God and deserves to be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or any other characteristic. We actively work to dismantle barriers and promote equality within our church and in the broader community. Our commitment to reconciliation is rooted in our faith and our belief in the transformative power of love and justice.

 I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

– John 13:34-35 ESV

We reject the erroneous notion that one gender is superior to another, that one gender must strive against another, and that members of one gender may receive love, power, and esteem only at the expense of another….We call upon women and men alike to share power and control… and to respect the wholeness of others….We understand our gender diversity to be a gift from God, intended to add to the rich variety of human experience and perspective; and we guard against attitudes and traditions that would use this good gift to leave members of one sex more vulnerable in relationships than members of another.

UMC Social Principles

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

– Galatians 3:28 NRSV

From the UMC Social Principles re: Science and Technology

“We recognize science as a legitimate interpretation of God’s natural world. We affirm the validity of the claims of science in describing the natural world and in determining what is scientific. We preclude science from making authoritative claims about theological issues and theology from making authoritative claims about scientific issues…. We find that as science expands human understanding of the natural world, our understanding of the mysteries of God’s creation and word are enhanced.”

UMC Social Principles